Colorado has zero Asian-American and Pacific Islander (or AAPI) people in the Legislature and – if you wanted a number that reflected the population – there should be four. We’re working to change that. Three years ago, Colorado 50-50 brought together a group of volunteers specifically interested in seeing more AAPI women in elected office.
Please join us on Friday, November 17, 6-8 PM for our AAPI Fall Social Dinner where you will meet other fabulous people who are interested in promoting AAPI women in leadership! We’re meeting at the Coark Collective Food Hall at 15775 E. Arapahoe Rd. in Centennial where you may purchase what you would like for dinner. There is no additional fee for this event. An RSVP at info@colorado5050.org would be appreciated.
Have fun discussing politics and policy. Meet women elected officials and candidates. Bring your checkbook in case you meet some you would like to support financially. Get connected with people working on campaigns, hear what campaigns are like, and discover volunteer opportunities. Come meet up with us!
Colorado 50-50 is proud to be partnering with The BIPOC Alliance to present, “Changing the Narrative in Local Politics.”
We aim to demystify the process for running for office and show how lived experience can open doors in politics. By harnessing the power of difference, we can change the narrative of local politics to one that is reflective of our democracy and more inclusive than ever.
The event will be a panel discussion followed by an intentional networking session.
Our panelists are:
Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin
Lafayette Mayor JD Mangat
Erie Mayor Justin Brooks
Dacono City Councilor Doris Crespo
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 Time: Doors open 5:45 PM with light refreshments Panel discussion begins at 6 PM Networking with local elected officials begins at 7 PM Event ends at 7:30 PM Location: Longmont Public Library, 409 4th Avenue Longmont, CO 80501
Have you ever wanted to serve in elected office and rejected the idea because you don’t want to campaign? Come learn what’s involved in running and serving at our Saturday, July 15, event in Colorado Springs. We’ll start by showing the documentary “Represent” and follow it with an intentional networking event with current and former local elected women officials.
“In the heart of the American Midwest, three women take on entrenched political systems in their fight to reshape local politics on their own terms. ‘Represent’ is equal parts personal and political, journeying on and off the campaign trail to tell the stories of female candidates from vastly different communities, support systems, and political parties. The politics may be local, but for these women, the stakes are high.”
Date: Saturday, July 15
Time: Doors open 1:45 PM
Film begins at 2 PM
Networking with local elected women officials begins at 3:30 PM
Event ends at 4:30 PM
Location: The Penrose House, 1661 Mesa Ave., Colorado Springs, CO, 80906
Light refreshments will be served. Registration is free and available through Facebook or EventBrite. Donations would be greatly appreciated so that we can cover our costs and make this event as accessible as possible.
Colorado has zero Asian-American and Pacific Islander (or AAPI) people in the Legislature and – if you wanted a number that reflected the population – there should be four. We’re working to change that. Almost three years ago, Colorado 50-50 brought together a group of volunteers specifically interested in seeing more AAPI women in elected office.
Please join us on Friday, June 30, 6-8 PM for our AAPI Summer Social Dinner where you will meet other fabulous people who are interested in promoting AAPI women in leadership! We’re meeting at the Coark Collective Food Hall at 15775 E. Arapahoe Rd. in Centennial where you may purchase what you would like for dinner. There is no additional fee for this event. An RSVP at info@colorado5050.org would be appreciated.
Have fun discussing politics and policy. Meet women elected officials and candidates. Bring your checkbook in case you meet some you would like to support financially. Get connected with people working on campaigns, hear what campaigns are like, and discover volunteer opportunities. Come hang out with us!
Update — February 10, 2023 — One Democratic female State Representative resigned and later pled guilty to criminal charges for lying about her place of residence to run for reelection. Her replacement was male, bringing the number of women down to 50.
Colorado made history in the 2022 election by achieving gender parity with legislators at both at the federal and state level.
For the first time, four of eight Colorado members of the US House of Representatives will be women – a doubling of the current number:
Diana DeGette (District 1, Democratic incumbent)
Lauren Boebert (District 3, Republican incumbent)
Brittany Pettersen (District 7, Democrat)
Yadira Caraveo (District 8, Democrat)
This is the first time that Colorado has sent a Latina – Dr. Caraveo – or any woman of color to Congress. It’s also the first time that District 7 will be represented by a woman.
Up to now, only five women have ever represented Colorado in Congress. Besides DeGette and Boebert, the others were Patricia Schroeder, Marilyn Musgrave, and Betsy Markey.
“It’s amazing that this time has finally arrived,” said Erin Hottenstein, Colorado 50-50 Founder. “Women have been helping to build this state into the great place it is for 146 years and yet we didn’t have our voices equally represented in the halls of power. Now we will.”
At the State Legislature, voters elected 51 women out of 100 available seats.
State House – 39 women out of 65 seats
34 Democratic women, 5 Republican women
State Senate – 12 women out of 35 seats
10 Democratic women, 2 Republican women
That’s the first time in our state’s history that we have had not only gender parity, but a female majority in the Legislature. The next closest time was in 2019 when we had 46 women.
“We’re excited to see these historic milestones, and we know there is more work to do.” Hottenstein said. “Colorado has never had a woman governor or US Senator, and many cities, including Denver, have never had a woman mayor.
“We also know that we can’t have a truly representative democracy without more women of color serving at all levels,” she continued.
“Colorado 50-50 looks forward to continuing our work in inspiring and training women to run for office, so that we can break even more glass ceilings,” she said.
Can you imagine a world in which more AAPI women were lifted into leadership? What would this world be like? How would we stand to benefit in Colorado?
Join us on Saturday, September 17, 9 – 11 AM, at Happy Living at 14015 E. Evans Ave. in Aurora for a brainstorming session on how we can collectively mold such a world into being.
We want to know what you think it would take to make this world a reality. Then, we can work to implement your ideas!
Light refreshments will be served at this in-person event. Please RSVP by using the QR code below or by simply sending an email to info@colorado5050.org with your name and contact information.
Colorado 50-50 is proud to be participating in the 2022 Week of Women. It runs from March 3-13 with a variety of events from concerts to networking and more.
“In the heart of the American Midwest, three women take on entrenched political systems in their fight to reshape local politics on their own terms. ‘Represent’ is equal parts personal and political, journeying on and off the campaign trail to tell the stories of female candidates from vastly different communities, support systems, and political parties. The politics may be local, but for these women, the stakes are high.”
Register for free now to receive a link to stream the film at your convenience from March 5-6. Then, your free registration also allows you to join us on Monday, March 7, 7-8 PM on Zoom for a film discussion. We’re interested to hear your thoughts on the ups and downs of running for office, as well as whether you think we have similar circumstances in our local races here in Colorado.
Then, meet us on Wednesday, March 9, 4-7 PM at the McNichols Events Center in Denver at the Women Powering Change Expo. This inspiring event brings together community members, leaders, activists, volunteers and philanthropists with nearly 100 Colorado-based organizations to showcase what women are doing to catalyze social change locally and globally to create a better world. This will be an expo-style event where you can come meet community leaders and learn what is being done in Colorado, and explore how you can also be a part of it all.
Admission to the expo is free (with donations also accepted) and you can use this EventBrite link to register.
Want to see the whole list of Week of Women events? Look here.
We look forward to seeing you at the “Represent” film discussion or at the expo!
The volunteers of Colorado 50-50 are proud to present “Winning With Women” on Thursday, November 18. The event will happen on Zoom beginning at 6 PM.
The purpose of the event is to demystify the process for running for office and we do it in two parts.
The first part is a panel discussion of elected women officials who will share how they decided to run for office, what was involved in campaigning, and what it is like to serve. This panel will highlight what it is like to run as a woman of color in Colorado. Our panelists are:
State Representative Yadira Caraveo
State Representative Naquetta Ricks
Aurora City Council Candidate Becky Hogan
Colorado 50-50 volunteer Maia Yang, who serves on our Asian American Pacific Islander Committee, is looking forward to hearing from the panelists.
“As a woman of color, it’s exciting to see myself represented in politics,” she said. “It opens the door for me to envision a world where I, too, could run and win.”
The second part of “Winning With Women” is an intentional networking session where participants will have opportunities to speak in small groups. We hope you will encourage women to attend who should take their next steps in leadership. In the Zoom breakout rooms will be elected women officials, women who are curious about running, and those who want to support women running.
Registration via EventBrite is required and costs $5. Scholarships are available. Please contact Erin@Colorado5050.org.
Royal Neighbors of America, one of the largest and first women-led insurance organizations in the U.S., located in Rock Island, Ill., has announced Erin Hottenstein, founder of Colorado 50-50, Fort Collins, CO, has been presented with one of ten Nation of Neighbors℠ empowerment awards and grants presented nationwide. In addition to the award, she received a $10,000 grant for her organization. Formed in 2017 by a circle of women in Fort Collins, Colorado 50-50 is a nonpartisan, educational group that believes office-holders – whether elected or appointed – should more closely reflect the population. The organization aims to strengthen civic engagement by facilitating discussions, so people feel empowered to participate in politics through exercising their right to vote, running for office, or supporting a candidate. To date, more than 600 people have participated in 15 events in eight locations.
According to the Center for Women and Politics, the number of women in municipal office hovers around 30%. “This data motivates me to inspire women to get on a path to leadership,” said Hottenstein. “Colorado and the world need the voices of women of all political stripes, women of color, and all those who are underrepresented in government and other positions of power. As a society, we make better policy decisions when there are diverse voices at the table.”
“Erin encourages, supports, trains and celebrates women who run for elective office in Colorado,” said Darcy Smith, Senior Member Engagement Specialist at Royal Neighbors. “She understands the importance of motivating and supporting young women who show an interest in serving their community, and the action she takes aligns with the same mission Royal Neighbors has lived since 1895.”
The grant from Royal Neighbors will be used to hire an attorney and nonprofit consultant and fund more trainings, marketing, and internship stipends. “I really want to express my gratitude to all the people who have helped us,” stated Hottenstein. “It’s really a community effort to inspire that next wave of women leaders!”
Nation of Neighbors is a Royal Neighbors of America philanthropy program that awards financial assistance to nominated individuals who plan to start or expand a business, organization, program, or nonprofit that helps women and/or girls in their community. To date, nearly $2.5 million has been awarded nationwide.
We are looking forward to meeting up on Thursday, October 7, for our Fall Social. The Honorable Betsy Markey will be our special guest. She served as a member of the U.S. Congress from 2009-2011 for District 4. In December 2018, she was named Executive Director of Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade – a post which she held until March of this year.
Our co-host for the Fall Social is Royal Neighbors of America. They are one of the largest women-led insurers in the U.S. and have a special announcement for us. In case you haven’t heard of them, Royal Neighbors has a “unique mission of insuring lives, supporting women, and serving communities that stems from being a fraternal benefit society and an organization with a dual mission of both providing financial protection through life insurance and ‘neighbor-helping-neighbor’ community service.”
We hope you can join us for this informal event where we get to meet elected women officials, women candidates, and other people interested in promoting women’s leadership. There is no admission to the event and there is a cash bar. Donations furthering the work of Colorado 50-50 will be gratefully received.
Details: Date: Thursday, October 7 Time: 5:30-7 PM Place: DC Oakes Brewhouse at 3851 E. Harmony Rd., Fort Collins. We should be on the south patio. Looks like the weather will cooperate! Cost: No admission. You buy your own drinks, appetizers, and/or dinner. Donations to Colorado 50-50 happliy accepted.
